Part 2 - Murchison Falls National Park
The lodge prides itself on soft pillows, over-the-top décor, and buffet tables ladened with dozens of dishes at every meal. Sadly, staff is not informed on wildlife activity in their sector and could not even name the type of animals a guest may encounter on a ranger-guided walk.
But I’m in the mood to forgive and forget. The main event for this weekend was chimpanzee trekking in the Budongo Forest. By Sunday morning I am my happy self again as we head towards Budongo Forest.
At the information center I met my guide, Chimp Boy.** We walked to a community of chimps that were high, high up in the canopy, barely visible. I understood that this is the nature of chimpanzee sightings. Sometimes chimpanzees stay in the trees feeding on fruits and may not be very active. But then I started getting the pitches —
“You’re lucky you have me as a guide,” declares Chimp Boy.”
“I need a DSLR camera.”
He was visibly angry that I wasn’t firing off shots of chimpanzee butts sitting on top of the forest canopy and declared “I can take pictures,” he tried to grab my camera to take his own pictures.
After a couple of hours, Chimp Boy spotted a new chimpanzee moving towards the community now napping in the canopy. Chimp Boy quickly pulled out his smartphone, chased the chimp taking live video and blocking me from taking my own photographs.
The Budongo Forest is stunning, the “guides” are not.
Chimp Boy decides time is up. It’s a quick walk back to the information center where there is an adorable café. It’s a training ground for local youth to learn hospitality skills. I ordered a fresh pineapple smoothie and listened to the bird calls surrounding the café thinking this is the best part of my entire Budongo experience. It was not a straight drive back home, but after several surprise errands in the 22 kilometers back to Masindi I am finally delivered home unscathed.
Chatting with the wait staff at the Budongo Café, was the highlight of my entire weekend. I promised that I would go back to visit them, just not with a private hire.
*I’m using a fictious name since we live in the same town and I do not want retribution.
** Chimp Boy is a real deal moniker.